Florida distribution: most of
peninsular Florida, not found in most of panhandle.

Identification: 34 cm.
Not all Red-bellied Turtles have red bellies, especially older animals. They can
be identified by the cusps on either side of notched upper jaw and the short
stripe on top of head between eyes.

Close up of subadult
showing the notched upper jaw.

Carapace

The arrows point out
some of the black that is still faintly visible on the plastron.

A particularly colorful
male Redbelly Cooter.

The same turtle's
plastron.

The elongated claws one
the front legs are one indication that this is a male. This is a trait found in
male turtles in the following genera Chrysemys, Pseudemys, and Trachemys.

Close up of the male
showing the large amount of red coloration in the skin and shell.

These were hatched from
eggs removed from a roadkilled female. The plastron patterns typically
fade and disappear within a few years.